If you’re a farmer or industrialist you must probably be familiar with the traditional pole barns and the burgeoning steel sheds. Both sheds can offer you enough space to store your farm or industrial products, equipment, and machinery and even provide office spaces. But then, what exactly is the best structure to use for your farm—the agelong pole sheds or the contemporary and durable steel building? What is the difference between these two structures?
What Is A Pole Shed?
Right from the 1900s, pole structures have been a common shed type used mostly by farmers in NZ. Pole structures are made with wooden poles buried in the ground to act as support beams for the outer walls and the roof. The outer walls consist of mostly wood, but sometimes, a tin can be used, which is screwed or nailed into the wooden poles.
Besides burying the wood to the ground, a concrete foundation may come in handy in constructing the pole structure. Pole sheds still appeal to some farmers, thanks to their cost efficiency and relatively less labor requirement.
What Is A Steel Shed?
Steel sheds are becoming a more popular shed option for farmers in NZ and industrialists. A steel shed is basically a structure made with fabricated high-grade steel components. You construct a steel shed by attaching steel columns to a concrete foundation. After anchoring each steel frame to the foundation, you connect the frames with grits and use self-drilling screws to attach the exterior sheathing to the grits.
Steel sheds are the best alternative to the traditional wooden pole barns. A steel shed is very durable and easy to construct. Also, steel material can withstand unfriendly weather conditions and other afflictions, including mold, rot, fire, and cracks.
What Is The Difference Between A Pole Shed And Steel Shed
Generally, steel sheds are different from pole sheds. The former is entirely made of prefabricated steel components, while the latter is mostly wood. Steel farm sheds are quite different from the traditional pole sheds when it comes to;
1. Durability
Steel is unarguably one of the most durable building materials. Of course, pole sheds have been around for ages but are no longer the ideal building material as technological advancements unravel better materials like prefabricated steel.
As pole sheds are mostly made of wood, they are quite durable if followed by a proper maintenance culture. However, they are very susceptible to damages from the elements. Their durability can be easily cut short by the action of termites, birds, water, and fire. In contrast, steel structures are quite resistant to these factors. With proper maintenance, common problems you can run into with your steel sheds, including rusting and water leaks, can easily be tackled.
If a pole shed lasts you for 15-20 years, a steel shed can last you for a lot longer.
2. Maintenance
Whether you end up with the pole shed or a steel shed, you most certainly can’t do without maintenance. However, as pole sheds are easily influenced by the elements, you will spend more time maintaining a pole shed than a steel shed.
3. Construction
Aside from the different materials, the style of constructing a steel shed is not exactly the same as building a pole shed.
In constructing pole sheds, you will anchor your wooden frames into the ground, bury them even without using concrete flooring, and set the poles 96” apart. In steel sheds, the framing is anchored into a concrete foundation and set at 20’ or 25’.
4. Sustainability
When it comes to popular building materials, steel is easily the king of sustainable building materials. Compared to the wooden material of the traditional pole sheds, steel is 100% recyclable. If you want to lower your carbon footprint, building your shed with steel is the best way to do so.
5. Cost
Although pole sheds and steel sheds are considerably cost-effective farm sheds, pole sheds appear to be a cheaper alternative. However, even though it seems you can save money by going for a pole shed, going for a steel farm shed in NZ can put more money back in your pocket. Compared to traditional pole sheds, steel sheds require less maintenance, lower your shed energy costs, and boost your shed’s resale value.
So, Which Is Right For Me?
There are many good reasons to go for the traditional pole sheds, but the benefits you can gain from using a steel shed clearly outweigh that. In all aspects, the benefits of a steel building offers a better value than what any traditional pole barn will give you. But at the end of the day, which material is right for you ultimately depends on what your needs are.